News about John Bercow

CRAIG BROWN: The day before yesterday, Lord Lisvane, the distinguished former Clerk of the House of Commons, wrote a bitter diatribe to The Times. A few years ago, he led the charge against John Bercow, complaining - quite rightly, as it turned out - that the former Speaker of the Commons was a serial bully. But Lord Lisvane has now pointed his guns at something much more popular: the well-loved hymn All Things Bright And Beautiful. 'We are fortunate in this country to have such a splendid repertoire of hymns: English, Welsh, Anglican, Non-Conformist, mighty, joyous, reflective, peaceful,' he complained in his letter. 'Why, then, do we have to suffer All Things Bright and Beautiful?' For the past 46 years, he has been a church organist. Over that time, he estimates that the hymn has been chosen by 'about half the participants in weddings I play for'.

Following last week's ceasefire vote shambles, the Commons Speaker sparked new SNP outrage today after rejecting their call for an emergency debate on Gaza. Following Sir Lindsay Hoyle's botched attempt on Wednesday, Stephen Flynn, the SNP's Westminster leader, had been calling for a fresh vote on a ceasefire. He wanted this to happen during an emergency debate under a Standing Order 24 procedure, but the Speaker refused Mr Flynn's request this afternoon. As they began their attempts to depose Sir Lindsay from his office, SNP MPs called the Commons a'mega-circus.' The number of MPs calling for the Speaker's resignation - by signing a no confidence motion - soared to 80 when the Commons returned from the weekend break.

After the shambles of last week's attempt by MPs to discuss the issue, the SNP is calling for a binding vote in the House of Commons on a Gaza ceasefire. Stephen Flynn, the party's Westminster leader, is calling for a new vote on the Middle East crisis from under fire Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. However, the act may spark a fresh debate over abandoning parliamentary convention, as Sir Lindsay did last week to start the tumultuous scenes in the Commons. The fallout from Wednesday night's mayhem has so far seen 71 MPs call for the Speaker to resign by signing a motion of no confidence in him. Sir Lindsay expressed regret for his part in the meltdown, but the public is also awaiting a second week of rumors about whether he will continue in his role.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle (left), who is facing more than 70% of MPs for a confidence vote after last week's Commons debate over Gaza, was accused of being 'rude and aggressive' toward Home Office civil servants over a decision to house Channel migrants at a hotel in his Lancashire constituency. Since he discovered that the Home Office had reserved rooms at the Plaza Hotel in Chorley to accommodate migrants, his suspected outburst at Home Office officials took place in December 2022. Following the Home Office's lack of warning only hours before the first migrants arrived, the decision sparked infighting among local Labour councillors. Sir Lindsay said that it was an unnecessary hotel to house migrants during an hour-long chat with then Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick and Home Office officials in his Commons office, and that there had been insufficient communication with the council.

HARDCASTLE EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Queen Camilla will lead the royal party at a service for late King Constantine of Greece at Windsor Castle, which the King was supposed to attend. Prince Philip baptized into the Greek Orthodox church and evacuated in an orange box after his family was exiled following the Greco-Turkish war, maintaining strong links with his cousin, ex-King Constantine II, who was accepted and treated in rank and priority as if he still had a kingdom.

Following bizarre scenes in the chamber overnight, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle expressed regret for'his conduct as ministers openly debate whether he will live. During tumultuous discussions in the Commons, Labour leader Penny Mordaunt blamed Labour for Sir Lindsay's "damaging" - suggesting that he had been unable to resist pressure from Sir Keir to choose an amendment to a SNP motion calling for a'immediate ceasefire'. Meanwhile, Downing Street has never voiced hope in Sir Lindsay. The amendment decision, which was taken in defiance of Commons Clerks' instructions, meant that Scots nationalists did not have a chance to vote on their own Opposition Day debate. It prompted a walk out from both the SNP and Torries.

When the delicate smile turns quickly to fury, the Chorley MP is typically an avuncular figure in the chair. All the more reason, then, that the 66-year-old finds himself in danger of being fired after less than five years in office. Following extraordinary scenes in the chamber overnight, some 49 MPs have already signed a parliamentary motion expressing no confidence in the presiding officer.

The Prince of Wales is a thoughtful and sympathetic family man whose heart is evidently in the right place. His style is more personal and casual than any of his royal predecessors, and he is eager to connect with the world around him. He will be shocked by the horrific pictures emerging from Gaza after Israel began military steps to destroy Hamas after the October 7 terror attacks, like so many of us.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu has shared more insight into what happens in the Love Island villa behind the scenes if anyone is feeling a lot of hate on the outside. The former Love Islander, 29, who rose to fame after winning Love Island in 2022 with partner Davide Sanclimenti, has revealed that if a star had stumbled on a bad way onscreen, producers would step in and warn actors to 'change their ways.' The Essex-based actress, who appeared in a Turkish soap opera before, also said that fame-hungry contestants had 'produced the show.'

On Friday's episode of The Traitors US, Ekin-Su Culculoglu was betrayed, poisoned, and murdered. The Essex-based actress, 29, came to prominence after winning Love Island in 2022 with partner Davide Sanclimenti, but she has also appeared in a Turkish soap opera. And it's likely she has won over a new generation of followers after signing up for the popular Peakcock show as fans claim she was 'the most watchable person on television.'

Lady Boothroyd, the country's most aristocratic, would not have been concerned. You didn't mess with Betty Boothroyd,' George Robertson, a former Labour MP, said. Some people tried. They were all failing. It wasn't a quip when she said, "Call me Madam." It was an order.' 'no toleration of windbaggery,' she said with regret. One imagined her gazing down from paradise at a church not devoid of gasbags - George Foulkes, Philip Hammond, Donald Anderson, Helen Liddell - and wondered if she was able to hold her tongue.

Since learning of the 'bullying' charges against him, viewers of the US version of hit reality show The Traitors have turned on contestant John Bercow. The disgraced Speaker of the House of Commons has resurfaced on television screens in America, but it has been unable to regain public approval. After learning online about Bercow's allegations, which resulted in his suspension, American viewers of the show, which premiered on Sunday and is hosted by Alan Cumming, have turned against him.

On the US version of The Traitors, John Bercow claims that his time in British politics has left him well versed in 'backstabbing' and 'deception.' On the latest series of the hit reality show over the pond, the former Speaker of the House of Commons and member of Parliament bragged about his abilities to other contestants. On the show, the 60-year-old, who resigned as Speaker in 2019 and has since been embroiled in a bullying controversy over his treatment of staff while in Parliament, has referred to himself as a'retired politician.' Although Mr Bercow has not been selected as one of the eponymous 'Traitors' on the program, he has raised doubt from some of his fellow contestants after suffering 'breathing difficulties,' which he attributed to asthma. He is not the only familiar face on the US version of the hit BBC show, with Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcülolu also appearing on the program, which is shot at the same Scottish castle as the UK version.

On the new series of the US reality show, former Speaker Paul Ryan and member of Parliament John Bercow are competing. In the first episode when the contestants introduced themselves, he was asked by Johnny Bananas, known for The Challenge, 'You were a member of Parliament?' "I'm a retired politician," Mr Bercow confessed to being late, and he revealed it on television. Backstabbing and deception are all part of the politician's life.'

Well, this is all a bit strange. Members of Parliament received their first message of the year from Sir Lindsay Hoyle's office just a few days ago. MPs were informed that 'as part of Speaker-led diplomacy,' the Palestinian flag would fly over the Commons on January 10 in honor of [the] Palestine Ambassador." The Speaker was also advised that on the same afternoon, at '15.30-16.00', the Speaker will have a meeting with the 'Palestine Ambassador' in Parliament.

The money was spread on nine foreign jaunts in the ensuing year, according to the government's Freedom of Information Act. Sir Lindsay has gone through half the £250,000 he had to spend on globe trotting in a year. Today, pundits said that taxpayers would find the bill 'difficult to swallow' for someone whose job is to sit in a chair and largely keep quiet.'

On an all-star version of the hit show The Traitors, controversial former Speaker John Bercow (left) has been selected as a contestant. Since being found to have'repeatedly and extensively' bullied employees, the ex-MP, 60, stood down from his role in 2019 and last year. Matt Hancock (right) follows in his footsteps by making the switch from politics to reality television, which will be hosted by Alan Cumming. Mr Hancock, a West Suffolk MP, appeared on I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here in 2022 and is back on screens in SAS's celebrity version: Who Dares Wins.

The threat comes amid Boris allies' concerns that'vengeful' Labour leaders will band together with 'patsy' Tory MPs to demand new sanctions against the former Prime Minister. The prestigious Privileges Committee will meet tomorrow to determine its reaction to Mr Johnson's shock resignation and his vehement condemnation of the 'witch-hunt' mounted against him. According to reports, the committee, chaired by former Labour Cabinet Minister Harriet Harman, will still insist that its report on whether Mr Johnson misled Parliament over Partygate be presented to the Commons and then voted on by MPs.

Sir Rod Stewart has given his full support to striking NHS workers as he continues to pay for more MRI scans in the United Kingdom in an attempt to minimize waiting lists. The junior doctors' protest, launched in the hopes of persuading ministers to relinquish their compensation demands, was the worst in the NHS's 75-year history. More than 200,000 appointments and procedures were canceled throughout the health system as a result. However, Sir Rod said that NHS staff were 'fully right' to protest as Britain braces for a 48-hour nurses strike, as well as ambulance workers walking outs after.

ANDREW PIERCE: Harold Wilson, one of the Queen's 15 Prime Ministers, is said to have been her favorite. But how true is that claim? Harold Wilson, a contemporary biography, is a must read about his relationship with historian and Shadow Cabinet member Nick Thomas-Symonds. Wilson's son Robin, 78, told me he often mentioned his encounters with the monarch at the book launch last Tuesday, just before the Queen fell seriously ill. The retired mathematician said, "He spoke about her savvy advice and said he'd relax with her because he knew none of their discussions would ever be leaked."

The Queen spoke to Liz Truss at Balmoral today, where she welcomed the newly elected Tory leader to become Prime Minister. The historic audience was the first time the 96-year-old monarch, who has struggled with constant mobility problems, fulfilled the main task at her retreat in Aberdeenshire rather than at Buckingham Palace. Today is also the first time Her Majesty has been photographed since she was seen arriving at the estate on July 21 for her summer holiday. The monarch's supporters poured their love on social media, focusing on how she had presented herself and owed their gratitude to her reign, which has now spanned the terms of 15 prime ministers, including Truss.